The racial discourse and the Dutch Reformed Church: looking through a descriptive-empirical lens … towards a normative task
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Date
2010
Authors
Schoeman, W. J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State
Abstract
The discourse between the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) and race is a difficult and
intense one. The aim of this article is to give a descriptive-empirical description of the
relationship between the DRC and race by using the Church Mirror surveys. An altered
social distance scale is used to measure church acceptance. In the discourse on race,
acceptance and unity in the DRC with regard to racial prejudice and attitudes towards the
“other” group have a stronger voice than theological or religious arguments. As a normative
task in this discourse, at least two aspects can be pointed out: developing a framework for
forgiveness and a confession on racism.
The Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) distanced itself from racism in the middle
eighties, and in the nineties, South Africa became officially a non-racial
democracy. However, the conclusion cannot be made that race and racial
differences do not play a major role in South African society today. The racial
“card” is part of the current debate, and the church is part of the discussion
and probably part of the problem. In November 2009, the Weekend Argus
reported, “Jansen blames racism on NGK”. Jansen argued that the church,
as one of the agencies of socialisation in society, helped entrench racism in South Africa. “The most dangerous for me is the NG Kerk.” The role of
the home, churches, schools and the university cannot be overlooked in the
damage racism has done to society. He questions if the church shares the
broader values of non-racialism (Jansen 2009a: 1). This is but one of many
critical voices asking the question about the relationship between racism and
the DRC.
The relationship between the DRC and race is one of division. Race and
dealing with racial differences are an integral part of the history of the DRC.
Today, the DRC is still predominantly a “white” church and at odds with her
family members that are “non-white”. The DRC is being held responsible
partially for racial problems in South Africa.
In doing Practical Theology, it is important to answer the question: What
is going on? Osmer (2008: 4) describes this as one of the tasks of Practical
Theology to gather information that helps discern patterns and dynamics in
certain situations and contexts (the descriptive-empirical task of Practical
Theology). The aim of this article is to give a descriptive-empirical account of
the relationship between the DRC and race. In the end, a question will also
be asked about the normative task of Practical Theology in this regard.
Description
Keywords
Racism, Social distance, Church acceptance, Church unity, Church Mirror surveys, Dutch Reformed Church
Citation
Schoeman, W. J. (2010). The racial discourse and the Dutch Reformed Church: looking through a descriptive-empirical lens … towards a normative task 1. Acta Theologica, 30(2), 130-151.